The Wife of Bath`s Prologue in Chaucer`s Canterbury Tales

Seminar Paper , 2000 , 10 Pages , Grade: 1,0 (A)

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature

1. Introduction
Alison, the Wife of Bath, is one of the most interesting characters in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Her tale and her prologue to this tale are different from the other tales since here the narrator is obviously more important than the tale itself: The prologue is about twice as long as the tale itself, considerably longer than any of the other prologues to individual tales.
Of Chaucer's 29 pilgrims, only three are female. The fact that it is being told from the female point of view is crucial both to the Wife of Bath's prologue and to her. The main topic of her prologue is marriage and how women should deal with their husbands. Alison displays many characteristics which were ascribed to the stereotypical `wicked woman' in Chaucer's times and her prologue is supposed to be the typical opinion of women. However, there is more to the Wife of Bath than that. Chaucer creates a very complex individual who is the topic of the following discussion.
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Table of Contents

• Introduction
• The Wife of Bath
  • The Wife's appearance
  • The Wife's character
• Contents of The Wife of Bath's Prologue
  • The Wife's introduction
  • The pardoner's interruption
  • The first three husbands
  • The fourth husband
  • The fifth husband
  • The friar's interruption
  • The Wife of Bath's tale
• Discussion
• Summary
• Bibliography
  • Primary reading
  • Secondary reading

Objectives and Key Themes

This essay examines the character of the Wife of Bath, one of the most prominent figures in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. The objective is to explore her complex character, focusing on her personality, motivations, and the ways in which she defies conventional societal expectations of women in her time.

• The portrayal of women in Chaucer's work
• The Wife of Bath's unique perspective on marriage and relationships
• The complexities of the Wife's character, balancing contradictory traits
• The use of religious and biblical references to justify personal actions
• The Wife of Bath's role as a narrator and her influence on the audience

Chapter Summaries

The essay begins by introducing the Wife of Bath, highlighting her unique status as a female narrator in the Canterbury Tales. The author then delves into the Wife's appearance and character, drawing on descriptions from both the general prologue and her own prologue. The focus then shifts to the detailed examination of the Wife's experiences, discussing her five marriages and the personal insights she provides about each husband.

The essay further explores the Wife's justifications for her multiple marriages, her views on the role of women in marriage, and her use of religious arguments to support her position. The author emphasizes the Wife's defiance of societal norms and her ability to manipulate her husbands.

Keywords

Key themes explored in the essay include the portrayal of women in medieval literature, marital relationships, female autonomy, religious perspectives on marriage, and the complexities of human character. The Wife of Bath's prologue, with its focus on the female voice and its candid portrayal of marriage, serves as a central point of analysis, providing a unique lens for examining the social and cultural landscape of Chaucer's time.

• College: Justus-Liebig-University Giessen (Institute for Anglistics)
• Course: Seminar: Chaucer
• Grade: 1,0 (A)
• Author: Kathrin Richter (Author)
• Publication Year: 2000
• Pages: 10
• Catalog Number: V3136
• ISBN (eBook): 9783638118965
• Language: English
• Tags: Chaucer Wife of Bath Canterbury Tales